#NVSen: Really…Berkley Focused “Like a Laser”…Really?

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Most Outrageous Claim Yet Begs A Harder Look


(Las Vegas, NV) – Seven-term Congresswoman Shelley Berkley is well-known for her outlandish statements and exaggerated claims, but her declaration this week that she will “focus like a laser on creating jobs” may be the best one yet.  Her record most certainly shows that creating jobs has not been a top priority.

“It’s a shame seven-term Congresswoman Shelley Berkley waited until the final months of the political race of her career to attempt to focus her laser on creating jobs.  It’s unclear where her laser was focused before now. Maybe it misfired when she voted for ObamaCare or her focus was just a little fuzzy when she voted for the trillion dollar stimulus. Her laser was most certainly misdirected when she sent hundreds of billions of dollars to Wall Street and Detroit instead of helping Nevada. Really, Congresswoman Berkley?  You’re focused like a laser…really?” said Chandler Smith, Heller for Senate spokeswoman.

 

Focused like a laser: Shelley Berkley sent $700 billion to bail out Wall Street, including almost $80 billion for Detroit, when Nevada was losing jobs. (H.R. 1424, Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, 110th Congress; U.S. Government Accountability Office Testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance,“Continued Attention Needed to Ensure the Transparency and Accountability of Ongoing Programs,” July 21, 2010)

Focused like a laser: In 2009, Shelley Berkley promised that the trillion dollar stimulus would be responsible for “creating or saving 34,000 jobs over the next two years.” Nevada has since then lost 62,000 jobs. (Press Release, “Economic Recovery Package Aims To Create Jobs, Spur Economic Growth,” Office of Rep. Shelley Berkley, Feb. 19, 2009)

Focused like a laser: Shelley Berkley continues to stand behind ObamaCare, which is forcing one in eight small businesses to either terminate their plan or notify employees it is going to be eliminated. (“Some Small Businesses Say Health Insurers Are Dropping Their Coverage, Kaiser Health News, July 25, 2011)

Focused like a laser: Shelley Berkley voted for a national energy tax that was designed to raise energy taxes and increase the cost of gasoline and electricity for Nevada businesses. (ACCF/National Association of Manufacturers,“Economic Impact on the State from the Waxman-Markey Bill, H.R. 2454 Proposed Legislation to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions,” August, 12, 2009)

#NVSen: Where Exactly Does Berkley Stand on Taxing Nevadans?

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Her Inconsistent Votes This Week Leave Nevadans Confused

 

(Las Vegas, NV) – Seven-term Congresswoman Berkley has been sending mixed signals all week, leaving Nevadans wondering exactly what her position is when it comes to taxes. After her election-year flip flop on taxing job creators and then voting against reducing the estate tax, it’s time for Shelley Berkley to explain exactly how she thinks taxpayers’ dollars should be spent.

“What exactly are Congresswoman Berkley’s ideas when it comes to taxing Nevadans’ hard-earned dollars?  We know she voted this week to raise taxes on job creators, but why the flip-flop?  And does she or doesn’t she want to reduce the estate tax?  Congresswoman Shelley Berkley’s votes this week are further proof that she consistently says one thing in Nevada but does another in Washington,” said Chandler Smith, Heller for Senate spokeswoman

 

Background:

 

Yesterday, Shelley Berkley voted against a plan that would allow Congress to address much-needed comprehensive tax reform more quickly.  The legislation would also broaden the tax base and lower rates. (H.R. 6169, Roll Call Vote #552 , August 2, 2012)  

On Wednesday, Shelley Berkley voted against legislation that would extend the 2001 and 2003 Bush-era tax cuts for those earning more than $250,000. (H.R. 8, House Roll Call Vote #545)

In 2010, Shelley Berkley voted to extend these very same tax cuts. (H.R. 4853, House Roll Call Vote #647, December 16, 2010)

On Wednesday, Shelley Berkley also voted against a plan that would prevent the estate tax from increasing to 55 percent. Instead, she voted for a plan that didn’t address the estate tax at all, which risks a mandatory increase. (H.R. 8, House Roll Call Vote #545)

But in April, Shelley Berkley championed her work on the estate tax at a meeting of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, saying she “wants to eliminate the estate tax, a popular Republican position.” (Cristina Silva, Rep. Berkley champions small businesses in Vegas, Associated Press, 4/11/12)

But then again, the Congresswoman has voted against reducing or eliminating the estate tax multiple times, including once when then-Congressman Heller proposed the motion.

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·         In 1999, Berkley voted against a tax cut package that would reduce estate and gift taxes until they were completely eliminated in 2009. (House Vote 333 – HR 2488, July 22, 1999)

·         In 2001, 2002 and 2003, Berkley voted to replace a bill that would repeal the estate tax by 2010 with different legislation bill that would either keep or raise the estate tax. (House Vote 82 – HR 8, April 04, 2001; House Vote 217 – HR 2143, June 06, 2002; House Vote 287 – HR 8, June 18, 2003)

·         In 2007, Berkley voted against a motion to permanently repeal the estate tax.  (House Vote 959 – HR 3056, October 10, 2007)

·         In 2009, Berkley voted against repealing the estate tax two times, once when then-Congressman Dean Heller proposed the motion. (House Vote 928 – HR 4154, House Vote 927 – HR 4154, December 3, 2009) 

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